Newspaper veteran with ties to Somerset County dies at 87

March 02, 2004

A 46-year newspaper owner and publisher with ties to Somerset County died Sunday in Somerset.

Clifton "Clif" Floyd Caldwell died after a lengthy battle with cancer at the home of his son Douglas Caldwell, publisher of the Daily American, and daughter-in-law Mary Ann Caldwell, surrounded by his loving family. He was 87.

Clif Caldwell, of Christopher, Ill., formerly owned and published the Christopher Progress and Herrin Spokesman newspapers.

Although weakened by cancer in recent years, Mr. Caldwell continued to live an active life of golf and community involvement.

His distinguished newspaper career covered five states and stops in Oklahoma, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida and Illinois. The veteran publisher was recognized for his contributions in journalism, highlighted by his election to the SIU Editors Hall of Fame located at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

In 1946, Mr. Caldwell started his newspaper career in Ada, Okla., after graduating from Oklahoma University. Soon after, he accepted the advertising manager's position at a weekly newspaper in Shamrock, Texas. Mr. Caldwell joined the Texas City Sun, Texas City, Texas, in 1947 as advertising manager.

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While at Texas City, Mr. Caldwell became the publisher of the Sun and the neighboring daily newspaper, the Galveston News.

In 1967, he accepted the publisher's position at the Fitchburg Sentinel, Fitchburg, Mass. It was role he assumed until 1973 when he was named publisher of the Lake City Reporter in Lake City, Fla.

His distinguished newspaper career expanded into the ownership of the Christopher Progress and Herrin Spokesman, a group of Illinois weeklies in 1974. There, Mr. Caldwell applied his craft as the consummate newspaper professional. His newspaper community coverage provided local news to communities in Sesser, Zeigler, Royalton, Johnston City, Carterville, as well as Christopher and Herrin.

Mr. Caldwell was noted for his soft-spoken approach and in-depth local community news coverage in his weekly newspaper operations. Joined by his wife, Verna Mildred "Millie" Caldwell, Mr. Caldwell instituted zoned editions of his weeklies that provided published local news for the seven different southern Illinois communities. Mr. Caldwell's weekly newspapers typically contained between 32 and 48 pages of comprehensive local news. This dedicated coverage was recognized numerous times by local and state press associations.

Many readers remember his award winning newspaper column "Clifhanger." Mr. Caldwell addressed issues affecting his readers and didn't back off from local controversies, including disagreements in principle with local politicians. He contrasted his serious subjects with a mixture of humor in his columns that appealed to the broad spectrum of southern Illinois readers.

In 1987, Mr. Caldwell sold the Christopher Progress and the Herrin Spokesman to American Publishing. He retired after the sale of the newspaper and settled in the town he called home, Christopher.

Mr. Caldwell was a World War II Navy veteran. He fought in the Pacific and Atlantic theatres, including stints in the Aleutian Islands and hunting German submarines in the English Channel. He served from 1941 until the conclusion of the war in 1945.

Committed to local communities, he was involved in Lions Clubs throughout his newspaper career. Mr. Caldwell served as president of the Lions Clubs in Texas City, Texas, and in Christopher, Ill. He also served as a board member of Man-Tra-Con in southern Illinois.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Millie Caldwell and four children, Denis Caldwell of Christopher, Dave Caldwell of Somerset, Douglas Caldwell of Somerset and Cindy Caldwell of Christopher, Ill. Daughters-in-law include Peggy Caldwell of Christopher and Mary Ann Caldwell of Somerset.

He is also survived by three grandchildren, Michael Ryan Caldwell of Ames, Iowa, Curtis C. Caldwell and Colin B. Caldwell, both of Somerset and a great-grandchild, Eco Edmonds of Christopher.